This is the scariest verse in the bible for believers

[1Tonne]

Regarding what Jesus Christ knows, you are aware I’d assume that He is literally God? Specifically, the only begotten Son and Word of God, who put on our human nature so as to restore and glorify it, saving us from death - this is the Good News of the Gospel, that God, in the person of the Son, out of His love for us, died on the Cross and was resurrected, showing us what it means to be human, saving us from the consequences of our sin, and also showing us who God is, for in Him the fullness of the Godhead dwells bodily, and those who have seen Him have seen the Father.

I get worried whenever I see people talk about Jesus Christ and God as two subjects, even if they are nominally Trinitarian, Nicene Christians.

Agreed

On the contrary, we can demonstrate the Gospel, and in this manner even someone who is mute can proclaim the Gospel. Through Holy Matrimony and Monasticism, the Gospel is proclaimed by means of example

If I just met you, can you please tell me how Jesus died on the cross by doing good deeds?

On the contrary, we can demonstrate the Gospel, and in this manner even someone who is mute can proclaim the Gospel. Through Holy Matrimony and Monasticism, the Gospel is proclaimed by means of example (and also obviously, Orthodox monastics are among our most active evangelists and teachers of the faith, and married couples have the duty of teaching the faith to their children, and also the opportunity to expose many others to the faith through the social opportunities the married life and having children presents - for example, by inviting friends to their wedding in an Orthodox Church, and to the baptism of their children, and by using shared interest groups, insofar as any remain available that are acceptable to Christians in general (the fall of the Boy Scouts of America into the grotesque, perverted organization it is today was a huge blow and is something I am still upset about, and it has caused some Orthodox churches to form their own scouting groups, but the problem there is insularity; likewise the liberal takeover of public education narrows our options with regards to outreach through contact in the schools).

Our actions substantiate our beliefs. They can be a witness to others that we truly believe in God, but they cannot replace the spoken or written Word of the Gospel. As Jordan Peterson puts it: "Is what you believe, what you say, or what you act out? In truth, what you believe, is what you act out. But if you are a person of character, then what you say and what you act out are the same thing, and then your word can be trusted. So, belief is substantiated in action."

The problem is this - asking someone if they are saved is not the right question to ask in terms of discerning if someone is in a soteriologically hazardous situation. It also is a question which is unanswerable, since St. Paul feared the possibility that he might fall away, and since he was not certain of his own salvation, and since I am infinitely more sinful than St. Paul, I have no recourse except to trust in the mercy of Christ, but I can say that I trust I am being saved; however, salvation is a process that is inextricably linked to Theosis (which John Wesley translated as “entire sanctification” and those who promote OSAS do so without compelling scriptural evidence.

Rather, to assess if a person is in danger, I need to determine if they are unchurched or are the victims of heterodox preachers. If the person is a member of a right-believing, right-worshipping Nicene church that I have confidence in, I can entrust their salvation to their church unless they have a spiritual crisis that that church fails to address - I am my brother’s keeper. As a clergyman, I am uniquely disposed to talk to people about how they are, even if they are not members of my own denomination, particularly through chaplaincy, but also in general. Those who I determine need help I will attempt to help, without fear of chagrin.

What I won’t do is ask questions I don’t wish to be asked, because the questions are epistemologically unanswerable and challenge the legitimacy of my church, which is, I maintain, deeply offensive.

I understand your point that asking, 'Are you saved?' is epistemologically difficult and can feel challenging, especially for those in positions of deep theological reflection. My concern, however, is not to put someone on the spot or question their personal assurance, but to lovingly point people toward the Gospel and their need for Christ.
Just as we would warn someone about physical danger, even if it risks discomfort, we have a responsibility to warn about spiritual danger. Accountability and clear Gospel proclamation are ways we look out for one another’s eternal well-being. The intent is not to offend or challenge church legitimacy, but to ensure that believers are aware of the necessity of Christ for salvation and to help guide those who may be in error or at risk of being misled.

That’s true. I am only arguing against the use of tactless questions that could have the effect of implying someone’s religion is heretical or false (which even if it is, a direct challenge against it is invariably counterproductive; experience has taught us you cannot debate someone into converting, and this is where demonstrations as a means of proclaiming the Gospel become so important). Frontal attacks on the faith of Muslims, for example, in countries like the US where we can approach Muslims and challenge them on their faith without being killed are unlikely to succeed. But one can get in via the side door.

This is where we need to put more faith in the Gospel (The full Gospel, including the Law). Our good deeds cannot change hearts of stone into hearts of flesh. That is the Gospel that does that.

The option I would choose, if it were on the list, would be something like "Fear that evangelism (in the style I was trained in as a young Baptist) will drive the person farther away from God".

The evangelism training I received as a young Baptist was in the Bill Bright / D. James Kennedy / Ray Comfort model. Persuade the other person that they aren't good enough for God to accept them, show Jesus as the solution, and lead them in the Sinner's Prayer. I now have strong reservations about this type of evangelism, for a variety of reasons, some of which I'll talk about below.

(Alas, I haven't seen an alternative model of evangelism that I like, that I think would attract people to God instead of repel them. This is, I think, a weakness of my mainline church -- which I otherwise love very much -- and probably a weakness of many mainline churches.)

Honestly, it seems like the hesitation here comes from a discomfort with confronting people with their sin and their need for Christ, the very thing Jesus did. Jesus didn’t shy away from showing the rich young man his spiritual deficiency. That confrontation is exactly what awakens the soul to the need for salvation.
Ray Comfort and others like him aren’t inventing a new method; they are copying what Jesus and Paul did: expose the human heart, reveal our need for a saviour, and then present Christ. If you want to ‘improve’ on it, you have to explain how your method is better than following the example of Jesus Himself. Until then, claiming there’s a better way than the model Christ used is simply ignoring Scripture and elevating your own understanding.
Paul told us to imitate him as he imitated Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1). That means boldness in confronting sin and calling people to repentance isn’t optional; it’s exactly what we’re called to do. No amount of polite avoidance will save a soul.
So, you should start watching Living Waters to learn something. You will also see that many, many people turn to Christ who normally would not even step inside a church.- So the method is not hollow. It is very effective.
NOTE: Jesus even said that the world hated Him because He told them of their evil deeds. And if we follow in His footsteps, the world will not like us either. But sadly, many Christians choose not to imitate Jesus as they think that they know better.

I think we could go a long way on my friend's point #2 if we could do much more of this: serve others in the community in a clear and bold way (going much farther than just being generically nice), boldly displaying our Christian faith while doing so. Currently, that's my best guess at evangelism. It doesn't prove the existence of God, but it could at least show Christianity making people better instead of worse -- an important first step.

Today, many have been taught that creation made itself. That thinking has to be challenged with words. When people say they don’t believe in a Creator, I often use this illustration:
“If you see a building, you know there was a builder. No one believes a building randomly assembled itself. The same with a painting, you know there was a painter, even if he died centuries ago. Design always points to a designer.
In the same way, when we look at creation, the stars, the trees, even something as simple as a leaf, we see design and complexity far beyond human ability. Despite all our technology, we still can’t make a living leaf. If it’s absurd to say a building built itself, how much more impossible is it to say creation made itself?”

At this point, many atheists admit there must be a Creator, but then they ask: “Which one? The god of Islam? The God of the Bible? Something else?” That’s where prophecy comes in. I then say:
"If I wrote 300 predictions of future events and all came true with perfect accuracy, you’d know something supernatural was at work. That’s exactly what we see in the Bible. The Old Testament contains over 300 prophecies fulfilled in the life of Jesus Christ, His birth in Bethlehem, His betrayal for 30 pieces of silver, His crucifixion, and many more. No other book, not even the Quran, has this prophetic accuracy."

Paul himself used the law and the prophets to prove both the reality of the Creator and our need for a Saviour. Once someone sees this, the Gospel makes sense: that Jesus died for our sins, rose again, and offers salvation to all who believe.
NOTE: This apology is one that Ray Comfort uses a lot. You should watch him and learn.

 

[PloverWing]

Honestly, it seems like the hesitation here comes from a discomfort with confronting people with their sin and their need for Christ, the very thing Jesus did.

No, I'm trying to describe something else. Ah well. Maybe I'll think of better words later in the week to describe what I have in mind.

I'm not convinced that the "Way of the Master" is really patterned after Jesus' approach to people.

I will say, though, that Ray Comfort has been a springboard for a lot of good discussions with my atheist friend. (He's one of the YouTubers I had in mind.) We've talked about the Jerusalem Council, and the flaws in the watchmaker argument, and the wide variety of philosophical theories of ethics, and the nature of the Old Testament prophetic writings. Good conversations, there.

 

[Gregory Thompson]

You’re right that the longer ending of Mark is disputed, and we shouldn’t build doctrine on a text of uncertain authenticity. But the call to proclaim the Gospel is not dependent on Mark 16:15, it’s repeated throughout the most reliable parts of the New Testament.
-Matthew 28:19–20: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…”
-Luke 24:47: “…repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations…”
-John 20:21: “As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”
-Acts 1:8: “You will be my witnesses… to the end of the earth.”

So even without Mark 16, the Great Commission is clear and binding. Revelation 21:8’s warning about the cowardly isn’t removed by textual questions about Mark. Christ has commanded us to be His witnesses, and shrinking back from that out of fear is exactly what cowardice looks like.

Back in the day, saying "Jesus is Lord" was compared to the contemporary imperative statement "Caesar is Lord"

By stating "Jesus is Lord" boldly, you were basically asking to be executed.

So cowardice today, might look different than what it did for the original audience .. depending on where you share it.

 

[Carl Emerson]

If someone angers people because they are being deliberately rude or provocative, that is indeed wrong. But let’s be honest, the Gospel itself provokes anger. Jesus enraged people to the point of wanting to stone Him (John 8:59) and kill Him (Luke 4:28–29), and Paul was constantly accused of causing riots simply by preaching Christ (Acts 17:6). The cross is called an offense for a reason (Gal. 5:11). If we think a faithful presentation of the Gospel will never upset anyone, then we are preaching a different gospel; one that avoids confronting sin. The issue is not whether someone gets angry, but why. If it is because of the truth, then we stand in good company with Christ and His apostles.

Scripture never presents evangelism as only an ‘inside the church’ matter. Jesus sent His disciples out into the world, not merely to invite people to watch their services. Romans 10:14 asks: ‘How shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?’ That’s not limited to clergy, the Great Commission in Matthew 28:18–20 is addressed to all disciples.
The idea that only laity inside the church or clergy are responsible for speaking directly about Christ does not match the New Testament pattern, where ordinary believers went everywhere preaching the Word (Acts 8:4). Yes, we must not be rude or presumptuous, but silence is not faithfulness. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:20 that we are all ‘ambassadors for Christ,’ meaning each of us represents Him wherever we go.

As for offence, Jesus Himself offended many by simply speaking truth (John 6:61–66). Asking someone if they know Christ personally is not a violation of the Golden Rule if done with love; it’s an act of care. To not ask, to not share, is to risk leaving people in darkness. Friendship, beauty, and worship are good, but the power of salvation is in the Gospel message itself (Romans 1:16).

I’d also add, wearing a cross or attending church, while good things, do not in themselves mean someone is saved. Jesus warned that many will say ‘Lord, Lord’ but not truly know Him (Matthew 7:21–23). Salvation is not in symbols or attendance but in repentance and faith in Christ. That’s why asking ‘Are you saved?’ is not an insult, it’s an invitation to reflect on where we stand with God. - I share the Gospel with believers and non-believers alike.

I agree that the Church should be welcoming and authentic, but Scripture shows that it is the Gospel itself, not ambience, that changes hearts (Romans 1:16). Beauty may attract, but only the Word of God brings life. If we replace proclamation with atmosphere, we risk leaving people impressed but still lost.
In Acts, they met in simple homes made of clay. They did not rely on architecture, icons, music, or ambience to bring people to Christ. If people come and stay only for the warmth of the community, the beauty of the building, or the quality of the liturgy, then those people may be impressed outwardly but have not truly had the inward heart change that only the Gospel produces. A church that relies on these to save people is in big trouble.
Paul himself avoided relying on style, eloquence, or atmosphere, because only Christ crucified saves. "And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified... that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God."

I fully agree that we must show love in deed, and our lives should reflect Christ’s love. But Scripture is clear that love in action alone is not enough. The most powerful form of evangelism is speaking the Gospel, because “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17).
The apostles did not “live the Gospel” into existence; they preached it. Paul said he “did not shrink from declaring… anything that was profitable” but went about “testifying… repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:20–21). He even said, “Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel!” (1 Corinthians 9:16).
Good works shine as evidence of our faith (Matthew 5:16), but they cannot replace proclamation. If we only love in deed, people may see kindness but never hear the saving message. The highest form of love is to risk rejection for the sake of their soul by speaking the truth about Christ crucified and risen.
Scripture never commands us to 'live the Gospel' as a replacement for proclaiming it. While our actions and love can demonstrate the reality of Christ in our lives, the Bible repeatedly calls us to speak the message of salvation. Deeds and words go hand in hand, but it is the spoken (or written) Gospel that brings salvation.

I agree that Revelation 21:8 primarily addresses denying Christ under threat, but it also condemns the cowardly, those who fail to obey Him out of fear. Scripture calls us to take up our cross daily (Luke 9:23), which includes giving up our lives for Jesus’ sake and for the Gospel (Mark 8:34-35). This daily surrender is a form of living martyrdom; faithful obedience in both deed and proclamation. Martyrdom may be rare in the ultimate sense, but daily obedience and boldly speaking the Gospel are expected of all believers. Fear is not an excuse to remain silent.

Still a little lost as to what you mean. You may need to explain.

Absolutely, following Jesus’ example is vital; we are called to do what we see the Father doing (John 5:19). At the same time, Scripture makes it clear that the Father works through our obedience, including proclaiming the Gospel. Even when we see obstacles or fear rejection, stepping out in faith and speaking the message God has entrusted to us is part of cooperating with Him. Trusting the Father doesn’t mean inaction; it means acting in line with His Word and Spirit, even when it’s uncomfortable.

The seed who's fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

That is not uncomfortable - if anything it is exhilarating.

 

[1Tonne]

Back in the day, saying "Jesus is Lord" was compared to the contemporary imperative statement "Caesar is Lord"

By stating "Jesus is Lord" boldly, you were basically asking to be executed.

So cowardice today, might look different than what it did for the original audience .. depending on where you share it.

Yes, in the Roman Empire, saying ‘Jesus is Lord’ could mean execution. But that only underscores the point: if the early church was bold under the threat of death, how much more should we be bold today, when the most we usually face is rejection or mockery? We aren’t risking our lives to share Christ, so there’s even less excuse for staying silent. Cowardice doesn’t vanish just because the danger is smaller; in fact, it exposes our lack of love for souls if we won’t speak even when the cost is so low.

 

[Gregory Thompson]

Yes, in the Roman Empire, saying ‘Jesus is Lord’ could mean execution. But that only underscores the point: if the early church was bold under the threat of death, how much more should we be bold today, when the most we usually face is rejection or mockery? We aren’t risking our lives to share Christ, so there’s even less excuse for staying silent. Cowardice doesn’t vanish just because the danger is smaller; in fact, it exposes our lack of love for souls if we won’t speak even when the cost is so low.

The industrialized nations are kind of like the beast of prophecy (rome) except now, there are many such beasts. Under the influence of such an entity, the persecution is silent. With the advent of certain social practices, publicly announcing your opinion in general can result in unemployment and homelessness.

So in terms of cost, that's more for God to assess. I wouldn't say it is "low"

 

[1Tonne]

The industrialized nations are kind of like the beast of prophecy (rome) except now, there are many such beasts. Under the influence of such an entity, the persecution is silent. With the advent of certain social practices, publicly announcing your opinion in general can result in unemployment and homelessness.

So in terms of cost, that's more for God to assess. I wouldn't say it is "low"

Sometimes the cost is not low. Even here in NZ, I once faced a situation where a man (who had others to back him up) threatened to beat me to a pulp and dump me in a gutter if I didn’t stop sharing the Gospel. I told him I would not stop, because people’s eternities are at stake. After a heated 15-minute exchange, I said I would leave for the sake of avoiding a fight and out of respect for him, but I also told him I’d be back the next day.
At that moment, something shifted. He suddenly said, ‘No, don’t leave. I can see you truly believe in what you are doing. Please carry on.’
I was shaken, but I believe my refusal to back down, even in the face of a severe beating, was itself a witness to him that I really did believe the message I was proclaiming. And that’s why we must keep speaking boldly: sometimes the very act of standing firm in the face of threats is what God uses to open hearts.

 

[Carl Emerson]

Sometimes the cost is not low. Even here in NZ, I once faced a situation where a man (who had others to back him up) threatened to beat me to a pulp and dump me in a gutter if I didn’t stop sharing the Gospel. I told him I would not stop, because people’s eternities are at stake. After a heated 15-minute exchange, I said I would leave for the sake of avoiding a fight and out of respect for him, but I also told him I’d be back the next day.
At that moment, something shifted. He suddenly said, ‘No, don’t leave. I can see you truly believe in what you are doing. Please carry on.’
I was shaken, but I believe my refusal to back down, even in the face of a severe beating, was itself a witness to him that I really did believe the message I was proclaiming. And that’s why we must keep speaking boldly: sometimes the very act of standing firm in the face of threats is what God uses to open hearts.

That is interesting - I was involved in sharing the Gospel with the gangs in Christchurch and the same thing was evident. Those seeking truth are expecting truth carriers to be fearless.

 

[Jeff Bacon]

People spend too much time preaching that good works can't save you. It is true 100%. However, we are saved to do good works.
Doing good works helps assure us of salvation. If we have the Holy Spirit, evangelize, and love God, plus our neighbor. We know we are saved.
1 John 4:13-17
If we are doing good works, we don't have time for all the works of the flesh.
I think we should focus on teaching assurance of salvation and giving training and opportunities for good works.
If we only teach that works can't save you, and evil people can't enter heaven, it just leaves the individual confused.
We need to empower people, make them strong believers, and show them they can trust in the Word.

 

[linux.poet]

I have been doing evangelism, both online and off, since I accepted the Gospel as a child. I was that kid in public school who would confront her friends with the Gospel and the claims of Christ, and yes, I would do the science class debates and get rebuked by my teachers lol. However, God has never given me the privilege of watching someone accept the Gospel. I still do it, and pray for God to correct my errors if I’m driving people away from the truth by accident.

I think I suffer from lack of knowledge more than anything these days and so I struggle with some of the debate points that are raised against me. Most of my evangelism encounters inspire me to improve something, whether it’s my knowledge of science or knowledge of political movements or knowledge of theology. (I probably have the spiritual gift of knowledge, actually, instead of evangelism. Though I have to give the caveat that my congregation understands the spiritual gifts a bit differently than your denomination might, so I have to be careful with that talking here. I think all giftings evangelise, but they do so differently.)

These days, I think my best witness is my story, rather my lackluster apologetics. The secular prognosis for CPTSD is grim: a cycle of abusive relationships, prison, and suicide. By the power of the Holy Spirit, I have been able to subdue my body so that I don’t have any of those things anymore. Without God, I wouldn’t be alive today. I’m still thinking, but I believe that this story needs to be told in some form (as a website series and/or memoir) and pushed out there for others to see. That’s probably where I will concentrate my ineffective evangelism efforts in the near future.

 

[1Tonne]

People spend too much time preaching that good works can't save you. It is true 100%. However, we are saved to do good works.
Doing good works helps assure us of salvation. If we have the Holy Spirit, evangelize, and love God, plus our neighbor. We know we are saved.
1 John 4:13-17
If we are doing good works, we don't have time for all the works of the flesh.
I think we should focus on teaching assurance of salvation and giving training and opportunities for good works.
If we only teach that works can't save you, and evil people can't enter heaven, it just leaves the individual confused.
We need to empower people, make them strong believers, and show them they can trust in the Word.

To be empowered, we need the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will drive us to speak.
I was a confessed believer for many years. I went to church, prayed, and even read my Bible. I also did many, many good deeds (I even spent a year building a church facility). I was like most other people who go to church. But it was not until I broke down about my sin (porn addiction) and I left it that the Holy Spirit entered me, and I changed. The Holy Spirit filled me. And what was in my heart could not stay there. I had to tell everyone about the Good News of Jesus. I was a different person, and people could tell. All I could talk about was the Good News. So, I studied the Good News, and I studied and eventually I went into the parks and started to share it. And this was not me, it was His spirit within my coming out. And if I did try stopping it, I would feel sadness within me. So, I knew that something had happened. I was a normal person who confessed to being a Christian, but once the Holy Spirit entered me, I could not stop speaking. This is repeated many, many times in the New Testament. People received the Holy Spirit, and they opened their mouths. And some who received the Spirit spoke so clearly that people from other nations understood them in their own language (Acts 2:1-13).
I believe that one of the main reasons the Holy Spirit was given was so that we would open our mouths. That we would be His witnesses to all the ends of the earth.
Here are some verses where people who had the Spirt within them and the Spirit spoke.

• Matthew 10:19–20
• Mark 13:11
• Luke 1:41–42
• Luke 1:67
• Luke 2:25–32
• Luke 12:11–12
• Luke 21:14–15
• Acts 1:8
• Acts 2:4
• Acts 2:14–18
• Acts 4:8
• Acts 4:31
• Acts 6:10
• Acts 7:55–56
• Acts 8:29–35
• Acts 9:17–20
• Acts 10:19–20
• Acts 10:44–46
• Acts 11:12
• Acts 11:15
• Acts 13:9–10
• Acts 13:52
• Acts 19:6
• Acts 21:9
• Acts 21:10–11
• Romans 8:14
• Romans 10:14–15
• 2 Corinthians 5:17–20
• Ephesians 6:18–20
• 1 Corinthians 12:7–10
• 1 Corinthians 14:1–5
• 1 Corinthians 14:26–33
• 1 Peter 3:15
• Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22

NOTE: You will also notice that some verses say something along the lines of "And they received the Holy Spirit, and they prophesied". Now I believe God does give some people a direct message to pass on, but I think that in many of the cases in the New Testament where it talks about prophesying, it is actually talking about going and sharing the Good News. These people are giving a testimony of Jesus. A testimony about what He did and His future judgment (future being prophecy). That He lived and He died, He rose again and paid the price for our sins, and that one day He will judge the world in righteousness. Revelation 19:10 even says that when we give a testimony of Jesus, telling the Good News, we are prophesying (Or at least walking in the heart of prophecy).
Revelation 19:10 "For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."

So yes, good works matter, but without the Spirit, they are just empty activity. I was a confessed Christian for years, but it wasn’t until I repented and the Spirit filled me that everything changed. Then it wasn’t just me doing works anymore; it was His Spirit compelling me to open my mouth and proclaim Christ.
That’s what the New Testament shows again and again: when people received the Spirit, they spoke. They bore witness. They couldn’t keep quiet (Acts 4:20). Good works confirm our faith, but the Spirit’s main role is to make us bold witnesses of Jesus to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8).

So, if we want real assurance and real power, it doesn’t come from more ‘works’ alone; it comes from being filled with the Spirit, who transforms both our lives and our words into living testimonies of Christ.

I have been doing evangelism, both online and off, since I accepted the Gospel as a child. I was that kid in public school who would confront her friends with the Gospel and the claims of Christ, and yes, I would do the science class debates and get rebuked by my teachers lol. However, God has never given me the privilege of watching someone accept the Gospel. I still do it, and pray for God to correct my errors if I’m driving people away from the truth by accident.

People these days and age do have very hard hearts. So just continue to share the Gospel and then trust that the Gospel has the power to change hearts of stone into hearts of flesh. We cannot do it; it is God. We plant the seed and we may never see it come to fulfilment, but one day we will see. We plant the seed, and then it is not us who creates the growth, it is God. How? We do not know.
Mark 4:26-27 “And He said, The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground; and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how.”
I have seen many people change from being an atheist to believing in God. But sadly, because they love their sin so much, I, too, have seen no real evidence that the people I have spoken to have become true Christians. Admittedly, many of the people I speak to may just be visiting my area, but I have also spoken to lots of local people. So, I see a change in them from unbelief to belief, but it is God who creates the real growth, and I leave that up to him.
Even if you never see the results in this life, you are still being faithful, and faithfulness is what God calls us to. One day in eternity, you may be surprised at how many people heard your words and came to Christ later. So don’t measure success by visible conversions or by how many people are coming to church, but by obedience in proclaiming Christ.
I look at it this way: If I spoke to a crowd of a thousand people and I told them the Gospel, and no one believed. I was 100% successful in my mission. Jesus gave us a mission to go and preach the Gospel to as many people as possible, and I have done that. Then it is God who creates the growth. I cannot make Christians, that is God, all I can do is proclaim the Gospel.

I think I suffer from lack of knowledge more than anything these days and so I struggle with some of the debate points that are raised against me. Most of my evangelism encounters inspire me to improve something, whether it’s my knowledge of science or knowledge of political movements or knowledge of theology. (I probably have the spiritual gift of knowledge, actually, instead of evangelism.

When we do start evangelising, most of us will be terrible. But train yourself and study the Gospel and apologetics. Then over time you will get better. Even seasoned evangelists are often terrible when they first start. A good way to look at it is we see professional cyclists and we think, "Wow, I wish I had that natural ability". But in reality, when the cyclist first started, he fell over time and time again. It was only with practise and getting out there that he got better. So, keep going out. The more you go out, the better you will become.
And remember, it’s not about being perfect in debate or having every answer. God delights in using weak vessels so that the power clearly belongs to Him and not us (2 Cor. 4:7). Even if you stumble or don’t have the perfect response, the Gospel itself is powerful, and God can use your words, however imperfect, to draw people to Christ.

These days, I think my best witness is my story, rather my lackluster apologetics. The secular prognosis for CPTSD is grim: a cycle of abusive relationships, prison, and suicide. By the power of the Holy Spirit, I have been able to subdue my body so that I don’t have any of those things anymore. Without God, I wouldn’t be alive today. I’m still thinking, but I believe that this story needs to be told in some form (as a website series and/or memoir) and pushed out there for others to see. That’s probably where I will concentrate my ineffective evangelism efforts in the near future.

Tell your story, as it may help others. But just remember that our testimony is not the power of God. The Gospel is. So, if you tell your story, use it as a tool to allow you to share the Gospel. - That we have sinned and that Jesus died and rose and paid the price for our sins. And one day, He will judge everyone- Those who put their faith in Him will be saved.

 

[Jeff Bacon]

I have been doing evangelism, both online and off, since I accepted the Gospel as a child. I was that kid in public school who would confront her friends with the Gospel and the claims of Christ, and yes, I would do the science class debates and get rebuked by my teachers lol. However, God has never given me the privilege of watching someone accept the Gospel. I still do it, and pray for God to correct my errors if I’m driving people away from the truth by accident.

I think I suffer from lack of knowledge more than anything these days and so I struggle with some of the debate points that are raised against me. Most of my evangelism encounters inspire me to improve something, whether it’s my knowledge of science or knowledge of political movements or knowledge of theology. (I probably have the spiritual gift of knowledge, actually, instead of evangelism. Though I have to give the caveat that my congregation understands the spiritual gifts a bit differently than your denomination might, so I have to be careful with that talking here. I think all giftings evangelise, but they do so differently.)

These days, I think my best witness is my story, rather my lackluster apologetics. The secular prognosis for CPTSD is grim: a cycle of abusive relationships, prison, and suicide. By the power of the Holy Spirit, I have been able to subdue my body so that I don’t have any of those things anymore. Without God, I wouldn’t be alive today. I’m still thinking, but I believe that this story needs to be told in some form (as a website series and/or memoir) and pushed out there for others to see. That’s probably where I will concentrate my ineffective evangelism efforts in the near future.

You don't have to have a lot of knowledge to evangelize. Practice. Study the Romans Road. Look up the wordless book...it's a old and time-tested method that is mainly for children but I think it works fine for adults. There is also Share Jesus Without Fear. I would put as many tools in the toolbox to make you more comfortable and just go practice in the real world. Once you get comfortable with that move toward apologetics so you can answer some of the common objections.

 

[PloverWing]

But it was not until I broke down about my sin (porn addiction) and I left it that the Holy Spirit entered me, and I changed. The Holy Spirit filled me. And what was in my heart could not stay there. I had to tell everyone about the Good News of Jesus. I was a different person, and people could tell. All I could talk about was the Good News.

This, I like very much. This is your own, genuine story, your own witness to the power of God.

 

[1Tonne]

This, I like very much. This is your own, genuine story, your own witness to the power of God.

It really is my story. But it makes me wonder, because for years I was told that all who confess Christ automatically have the Holy Spirit. So I believed I had Him, even though I saw no evidence and felt no change. Yet Jesus warned that many will say, 'Lord, Lord,' but He will say, 'I never knew you' because they loved their sin (Matt. 7:21–23).
Do such people truly have the Spirit? I am not certain. What I do know is this: when I was clinging to sin, I had no desire to speak about Jesus. But when I repented and the Holy Spirit filled me, everything changed. I couldn’t keep silent; I had to share the Good News. The Spirit drove me, just as He did the believers in Acts who spoke boldly, sometimes even in languages they had never learned (Acts 2:1–13).
That’s why I believe one of the main reasons the Spirit was given is to empower us to speak, to be Christ’s witnesses to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). Sadly, I don’t see that same passion in many believers around me. Many focus on good deeds and hope unbelievers will come to church. But the Spirit was given not only to make us kind, but to make us bold witnesses.